Kannada Alphabet

If you're trying to learn the Kannada Alphabet you will find some useful resources including a course about pronunciation, and sound of all letters... to help you with your Kannada grammar. Try to concentrate on the lesson and memorize the sounds. Also don't forget to check the rest of our other lessons listed on Learn Kannada. Enjoy the rest of the lesson!

Kannada Alphabet

Learning the Kannada alphabet is very important because its structure is used in every day conversation. Without it, you will not be able to say words properly even if you know how to write those words. The better you pronounce a letter in a word, the more understood you will be in speaking the Kannada language.

Below is a table showing the Kannada alphabet and how it is pronounced in English, and finally examples of how those letters would sound if you place them in a word.

Kannada Alphabet

English Sound

Pronunciation Example

క

k

as in kiss

చ

c

as in cat

ట

ṭ

as in tool

త

t

as in task

ప

p

as in pool

య

y

as in you

శ

ś

as in sweet

ఖ

kh

as in Scottish Loch

ఛ

ch

as in charm

ఠ

ṭh

as in that

థ

th

as in think

ఫ

ph

as in stop her

ర

r

as in rooster

ష

ṣ

as in sold

గ

g

as in game

జ

j

as in pleasure

డ

ḍ

as in door

ద

d

as in day

బ

b

as in baby

ల

l

as in life

స

s

as in sweet

ఘ

gh

as in Ghana

ఝ

jh

as in Bridge hop

ఢ

ḍh

as in speed hump

ధ

dh

as in speed hump

భ

bh

as in bulb holder

వ

v

as in vast

ఱ

ṛ

as in rainbow

ఙ

ṅ

as in noon

ఞ

ñ

as in New York

ణ

ṇ

as in nice

న

n

as in night

మ

m

as in map

ళ

ḷ

as in life

హ

h

as in home

Vowels (when independent)

With క (k)

Sound

అ

క

a

ఇ

కి

i

ఉ

కు

u

ఋ

కృ

r̥

ఌ

l̥

ఎ

కె

e

ఐ

కై

ai

ఓ

కో

ō

అం

కం

ఆ

కా

ā

ఈ

కీ

ī

ఊ

కూ

ū

ౠ

కౄ

r̥̄

ౡ

l̥̄

ఏ

కే

ē

ఒ

కొ

o

ఔ

కౌ

au

అః

కః

Kannada Pronunciation

You saw how a letter is written and might be pronounced, but there is nothing better than hearing the sound of the letters in a video or audio. Below you will be able to hear how the letters above are pronounced, just press the play button:

Kannada Pronunciation

The alphabet and its pronunciation have a very important role in Kannada, therefore they need very special attention. Once you're done with Kannada alphabet, you might want to check the rest of our Kannada lessons here: Learn Kannada. Don't forget to bookmark this page.